Join us as we explore the new California P ioneer Certificate Program\, honoring the state's early settlers. The pres entation will include an overview of the early history of California\, enc ompassing the colonial era. Subsequently\, we will delve into the program' s objectives and the eligibility requirements associated with the certific ate program. We will discuss the process behind the development of the Cal ifornia Honor wall's architecture\, the range of resources available on th e site\, and the helpful finding aids designed to facilitate navigation. P resented by Colin Whitney.
\nColin Whitney was born and raised outsi
de London\, England and \;emigrated to America in 1962 and studied phy
sics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology\, obtaining his Doctorat
e in 1970. After accepting a position as Assistant Professor in the Electr
ical Engineering Department he continued his research at the Central Resea
rch Laboratory of the Sperry Rand Corporation. In the late 1970s he moved
to California\, joining the Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City. He ret
ired from
Hughes in 1999 as Technical Director at their Missile Syste
ms Group in Arizona.
His interest in genealogy began in 2009 when he discovered his step grandfather&rsquo\;s files containing DAR applicati on forms and the rudiments of a family tree. When he returned to Californi a in 2018 his interest in genealogy grew. He became involved with the San Diego Genealogical Society as Education Director and currently leads their California Pioneer Certificate Program. He teaches genealogy at the Socie ty&rsquo\;s Special Interest Groups and throughout the community. His main foci are the British Isles and DNA.
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